October 2: Snowflakes....

A September project started by my friend Justin on Station was to capture the beauty of some Macquarie Island snowflakes. After watching Justin trying to scurry back and forth between the Market Square and the freezer during snow flurries for a few days, I couldn't help but join in the fun, appointing myself  assistant snowflake catcher.
Let's be clear, these snow flake images were hard fought.
Snow storms pass in fronts here so just trying to collect them on glass plates during 30 to 40 knot winds was the first challenge. It snows at around minus 1 C here, so the next challenge was to run with the captured snowflake, without it sliding off the glass and before it melted, into the freezer. Justin would then be at the ready inside the minus 18 freezer, with his camera poised. A ridiculous but ingenious set up was devised for mounting his camera and lights using bunsen burner stand and tripods that I found in the science laboratory. Then Justin would have to find the tiny snowflake on the glass plate, all whilst his fingers would be freezing. Then finally we'd stand and hold our breath and be really still and then.....click...
.....wonderful sub-Antarctic snowflake crystals. We ran out of time to perfect the set up, but these images capture the beauty of the delicate and intricate crystals of our Macca snowflakes.
Thank you Justin for sharing your project with me! (Especially in face of my incessant over-enthusiasm!)

Snowflake. Photo: Justin Chambers

Snowflake. Photo: Justin Chambers

Snowflake. Photo: Justin Chambers 

Snowflake. Photo:Justin Chambers

Snow crystals. Photo:Justin Chambers

Snow crystals. Photo: Jacque Comery

October 1: The Beachmasters!

The bull elephants seals, The Beachmasters! Three to four metres long and  up to 3 tonne. Despite their big sluggish appearance these fellas can move. Avoiding getting between them and the water, then and the female seals, and them and pretty much anything else that they may be interested in, is highly recommended.
More amazing pics from Justin Chambers. Thanks jj.

Beachmaster on east beach. Photo: Justin Chambers

Beachmaster in the tussock. Photo: Justin Chambers

Beachmaster. Photo: Justin Chambers

Beachmaster . Photo:Justin Chambers

September 30: Seal harems on the east coast

The elephant seal harems are growing on the beaches around the isthmus. Each harem has a Beachmaster, a big male, and a posse of female seals who chose the harem that they wish to join. The Beachmasters then battle it out to take control of each others harems, winning the rights to mate with  all of the females. First though the females need to finish having their pups. As the harems get bigger the  Beachmaster has a greater area to cover to ward off sneaky suitors. If a rival male sneaks up on the harem, the Beachmaster will often charge through the seals, crushing females and pups to ward off the challenger. These battles can be a fight to the death, and the sight of two 3 tonne seals smashing against each other with tremendous force is a sight to behold.
To perch up in the tussock and watch this unfold has been likened to watching a soap opera of sorts.

Elephant seal harem on east beach. Photo: Justin Chambers

Seal harem on east beach. Photo: Justin Chambers

Beachmaster and his harem. Photo: Justin Chambers

Thanks for the photos jj.

September 29: Power house engines

Lionel our Station Mechanic, invited me to help out on a service on the  engines in the main power house. He has been kindly  tutoring me  on engine maintenance  to assist in my study towards my Marine Engine Driver Course (MED3).
On this day Lionel taught me how to undertake a valve adjustment.
The engines which power our station are marine diesel engines, and so I am able to complete many of the tasks required of my course here on Station with Lionel.

Valve adjustment. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Maintenance on the engines in the power house. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

September 28: Furries in Garden Cove

After a Sunday afternoon counting elephant seals with Justin, on the east coast and in Garden Cove, the light brightened up presenting the perfect opportunity to capture all of the cheeky character of the local furries. Justin had the camera (I left mine at home).  I did however contribute with what I consider to be the helpful incessant begging and pleading to shoot more and cries of "Check out the light, shoot that way, look at that guy...etc etc....".

Thanks Justin for the pics. They are great!

Fur seal surfacing. Photo: Justin Chambers

Fur seal guarding its rock stack. Photo: Justin Chambers

Furries doing their best Meerkat impression. Photo: Justin Chambers

September 27: Milk face

Milk face. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

September 26: Gadgets Gully

The trades team had been replacing the ladders up Gadgets Gully over several weeks of work. On a beautiful but cold day the boys finished the job and needed extra hands to help carry the old ladders and tool caches back down the Station. I was happy to lend a hand, and take in the beautiful view to be had from up in the gully at the same time. I seem to have scored a lighter load than Justin who is in the distance with a pack and two generators!

Carrying gear down Gadgets Gully. Photo: Rich Youd